The book was a best-seller, and in 1961 it was adapted into a musical by Frank Loesser, with book by Abe Burrows. The play differs significantly from the book. It satirizes Mead's own career by depicting the rise of eager young J. Pierrepont Finch, a window-washer who joins a huge corporation by starting in the mail room, and becomes chairman of the board a week later.
The play was a smash hit, with a Broadway run of 1,417 performances between October 1961 and March 1965. It won eight Tony Awards and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for best drama. It was adapted into a movie in 1967. It was successfully revived on Broadway in 1995, starring Matthew Broderick as Finch. A 2011 revival, starring Daniel Radcliffe, opened on March 27.
